The focus was always on Eddies lead playing , and for good reason , but people forget what a great rhythm player he was. The groove on this song is killer.
The beginning of the song is Eddie playing the guitar like a bass, slappin' the old guitar, hitting harmonics, then tapping the harmonics. Idk anyone else who's ever pulled that off.
For sure, this is my favorite album, they recorded together. 1 & 2 were pretty incredible too, though! They couldn’t go wrong just starting at VH1, and going through their discography, like they do all the other legendary artists and bands. 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼
VH at their best. Roth's inflections at the right point in this song sets up what is coming next, and the bass line just drives it along: Michael's best bassline, ever, in my opinion. EVH, what do you say that hasn't been said? Alex's drumming is really on point, here. This was a well-oiled machine of a band during this period of their musical careers. I automatically like any reaction to this song just to watch people's faces...plus it gives me reason to listen to the song, again: As if I needed a reason.
Can you imagine the crowd seeing you play live this song in 1981... This Song was released in 1981 !... Simply amazing ....... The sound . riffs . changes.. it really has a lot going on and makes you stand up take notice.
@@generoberts9151 Point taken. I got caught up in the Disco Fever stuff and then college and didn't delve into VH after that. What's great is being able to watch reactions and experience a "new" song which is over 40 years old. So cool. Hey, ever heard of "Telegram" by Nazareth? If not have a listen sometime.
Oh my goodness, you're in for an unreal listen...Sinners Swing, So this is Love, Dirty Movies....whole album is sick, but VH1 thru 1984, every song is unreal (imo)
"DANCE, BABY!" Man, that section is one of the sickest grooves in all rock, imo! The whole song is stupid good. David Lee Roth is THE Van Halen singer, and, imo, all the albums up until "1984" were Golden Bars of Kickass.
This takes me back to 1981, 12 years old and freakin loved this album! Back then my favorite bands were AC DC, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Kiss, Boston, UFO, Styx and the Beatles! This album blew me away! Great reaction and some great memories.
So many Van Halen songs and everyone has their favorites but for me, this will always be how I see Van Halen. So fucking raw and polished at the same time.
Some other favs if mine "ain't talkin bout love", "light up the sky" "outta love again". But honestly you almost can't miss with their first 4 albums and some good stuff even after those.
This is one of my favorite songs on one of my favorite VH albums. It is so underrated even though many people love it. Great song with great guitar work. Great bass and drums also.
It's understandable, what with EVH's guitar pyrotechnics and DLR's theatrics, that the rhythm section would get overlooked. But AVH's stick work and MA's driving bass line really carried this song. Those two can hang with any rhythm section...anytime, anywhere.
I agree with this mostly. They are good. But there is a reason they get lost sometimes. They are not Buford/ White and Squire of Yes or Geddy and Peart of Rush. But they are good.
The thing I like most about you guys is, you are so honest. You really give her full attention to the song and let it affect you. Talking about things that really got to you is so intriguing. You sometimes pick up on stuff I didn't think about, and it makes me appreciate the music even more. Let me tell you, it is much appreciated! 😊
Start of with their first album! We were all blown away (rock enthusiasts) by their unique sound. All of their albums are a must to hear! You’ll not regret it.
I remember the first time I heard this song when the album first came out, I thought the opening guitar riff was bad ass. But when David came in with the vocals, the riff was dropped an octave and the bass line came in with Eddie's guitar.....it was like a punch in the face. I couldn't get over how sic that sounded, and yes it felt like a street record. Love this song.
David Lee Roth, the lead singer, wrote all the lyrics & had a very distinctive vocal style. Yes, he absolutely had a rap cadence/talking style on a lot of songs, really made Van Halen unique in yet another way. It's why so many prefer him to Samy Hagar, their lead singer after Dave. Sammy's voice is technically better, but Dave is just special.
Sammy's voice is higher, not better. Dave's voice sits perfectly in the mix. A nice low mid growl filling up the center with rest of the band framing it. Sounds like a roaring lion and Sammy sounds like a screeching eagle. Sounds great on his solo stuff because the music framed his voice better. In Van Halen he was in the same sonic space as everything else. All high end shrill. Dave balanced it out perfectly. It's just lucky genetics.
GREAT TUNE, GREAT ALBUM... As with all the EARLY Recordings from all bands, the first albums are the best ones... When MTV showed up, the Talent Left...! The First Album, everyone knew every word of every song. Going to keep Plugging Early Aerosmith too. REAL HARD ROCK describes the first 4 albums. GET YOUR WINGS and ROCKS are two albums that totally rock...
@0:54 > This is the pinnacle of the "Brown Sound," particularly that sustained power chord in the beginning right after the tapping riff. It just rings out in nasty glory. Never gets old.
Van Halen are the ultimate party band! You should listen through their self-titled first album, it's one of if not the greatest rock debut album up there with Zeppelin 1. Almost every song was a hit and it was a revolution in guitar playing and sound!
The menacing snarl in this immortal classic is heard in even greater ferocity on House Of Pain, the final track on their 1984 album. Teeth tearing flesh and crushing bone.
One of the greatest VH songs as far as riffs go. Just nasty. Not to mention the work of Alex and Mike holding it down during the break before the solo. Ed was a genius on so many levels. Always loved how he masterfully played off the lyric “lord strike that poor boy down.” He rode a swell into that and then that pick slide sounded like thunder and lightning. Ridiculous
Every new VH release was always met wth excitement, wth good reason. But you could tell Mean Streets was different. I think people stopped fawning over Eddie's solos and realized his true talent. Big boy album. This was also their last true album together and their best
I was 13 or 14 years old when I heard this album for the first time (back in the early 80s). Up until this time I was listening to banjo music and blue grass because I loved the intricacy of banjo that fueled my hyperactive mind. Eddie Van Halen and the boys of Van Halen came along and it changed my life forever. This album is one of the darker/harder albums for Van Halen. The second song "Dirty Movies" has kind of a funny back story. Alex Van Halen (Drummer and Eddies brother) and David Lee Roth used to do the radio station circuit together, promoting concerts or new releases. David Lee Roth would always tell hilarious stories or jokes. He tells this hilarious joke about how to get rid of the crabs: "You go to a dirty movie (porno) movie theater wearing nothing but a trench coat. You buy two large buckets of popcorn with the entire salt shaker in one bucket and you buy one big root beer. You go into the theater and sit down in the middle row. You eat one of the popcorns and drink the root beer. Open up your trench coat and poor the popcorn with the salt, all over yourself and when the crabs get up to go get a root beer, change seats.... Van Halen was one of the original hard corps party bands and were famous for getting kicked out of hotels or getting arrested. Alex Van Halen told a story, during a radio interview about how he was parting with David Lee Roth at some hotel in California with a bunch of people. Alex woke up the next morning in the hospital, all bruised and bloody and bandaged. He called up David Lee Roth and asked what happened. Dave says, "last night you got so drunk, you bet everyone you could jump off the second floor balcony and fly and you jumped and landed in the bushes hard". Alex asks, "why didn't you stop me?!?" David replies, "Stop you? I bet everyone $100 dollars you could do it!" lol.
Born 1968, this came out when I was 13 already playing guitar. The intro grabs me to this day. I've tried to play it maybe 50,000 times. I can play it true for maybe 8 seconds then I throw a push rod and parts fall off. IMHO, the Mean Street intro is the hardest thing to master in rock 'n roll guitar. Maybe impossible?
Just want to say great job guys - I like what you said about listening to guitarist and how EVH is different - he is and he is the best! Great job! You guys ROCK!
To be very American about this , which I am , this song totally kicks serious .. ass ! Growing up in LA , I use to chuckle because this band came from Pasadena . Pasadena in the 70’s was full of the elderly , cafeterias and Early Bird specials ! Still can’t believe they grew up there! Hilarious! They probably got alot of complaints about the noise ! lol
It’s so cool you guys are listening to this for what is. It isn’t on the charts like it was but this was the shit back in the day. Still get goosebumps from those guys 👍🏽
another album where Ed sets himself apart. at the time there were a ton of gun slingers, then Ed drops that intro and we all go back to the shed to practice. Al's groove and pocket are overlooked because he has a generational talent with him. Monster band
It's like David Lee Roth is RAPPING those verses. Bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen is an in the pocket, grooving rhythm section. Just perfect.
In Belgium, or at least within the circle of friends and acquaintances I frequented, Van Halen wasn't too well received because of their cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me". Most people I connected with when I was a teen were much older than me and a lot grew up with typical sixties British Rock like Kinks, The Who, Faces and Small Faces, Rolling Stones and touching any song from those days was as good as blasphemy. I never cared too much. Bought Van Halen's first album in 1978 when it was released and I liked what I heard. Saw the lads in 1980 at the Geleen Pink Pop Festival (26th of May) and despite David Lee Roth having gotten in an accident on an Italian TV stage a few days prior to the show all was well and the gig was more than okay. "Mean Streets" is one of those songs that have a groove that is infectuous. Thanks for the reaction lads.
Their best album, every song was great. The songs flowed so well too, you could pop the tape in and let it run out that side, then flip it over and doing the same to side 2
Van Halen was essentially a hard rock/swing jazz party band, at least during the David Lee Roth era. Alex and Edward's father was in a swing jazz band, and they learned those influences at a young age. DLR was also a big vaudeville jazz guy. The swing really shows up in "Sinner's Swing", "I'm the One", "Outta Love Again", "Top Jimmy", "Hot For Teacher", among others. Too much FUN!!!
I remember when this album came out. We went to see Twisted Sister ( in those days half of their set was cover songs) and they played this song. Minus the guitar solo of course. Lol. Michael Anthony the bass player is the unsung hero in this album. Check out So This Is Love.
Great album, great song. Back in the day I covered this song. The intro you hear is actually Eddie Van Halen on guitar and it's very hard to do. He slaps with both hands, one for muting while the other hits the low E string and the two high B and E strings on the 12th fret. From a song writing perspective this song is absolutely flawless, every track is perfectly done - Drums, bass, vocals and of course the guitars, even the tempo sets the mood. Although this song doesn't have a pre-chorus, it's filled with different ideas which is a sign of good song writing skills. The outro is also excellent with the 2-3 guitar parts that match the mood of the song. As you listen more to the song, the various parts stick in your mind and you can't get them out and you crave for more. From a guitar standpoint, Eddie does a beautiful job mixing the various techniques that really drives the song. The harmonics right before the band comes in, the ending to the chorus with varying chord inversions, the pick slides, the harmonics, the tremolo, very well thought out from beginning to end. And of course, the EVH soloing is flawless.
My fave van halen song. Eddie's tone will never be matched. Everyone likes to focus on the tapping and harmonics, but they often forget the pure funk and feeling that he had.
Oh man, when this came out, I had a 76’ Camero with a Pioneer Super Tuner II in dash, amp, and speakers! I would kill to have that car and the system back and blast this one once again!!
Much love to you guys for doing this - it allows others that may have never really listened to VH to discover what many consider the greatest rock band of all time. And Eddie VanHalen is by far the greatest guitar of them all. Props boys!
The best hip hop song I've ever heard! This album and Woman And Children First, (their 3rd album), ruled my teen years. They are def worth doing entire albums if you guys are down. No concepts, just pure rock, with lots of rhythm and of course some blues. First 4 albums are excellent imo. After that, the drama with David appeared to begin as it showed in their work. I think they did 2 more albums with Dave before Sammy came in. They have a lot of good stuff from that era as well. Thanks for playing this one guys. I think you would love every song on Fair Warning! ✌🏼❤
They were so fawkn Badassss! Although the debut album is my fave this is an extremely close 2nd out of those 6 albums with lead singer DLR. Every songs a banger!
Alex Lifeson and Eddie Van Halen are my favorite guitarists, in a crowd with SRV, Paige, Beck, Jimmy, and 20 others. They are so different from each other, but both knew how to use distortion in the proper amounts like cooking a recipe. Okay, that was corny, but you know what I mean. That gritty distortion they both used was just perfect.
The focus was always on Eddies lead playing , and for good reason , but people forget what a great rhythm player he was. The groove on this song is killer.
Eddie always said he enjoyed playing rhythm more than 'solos' ;)
I think Michael Anthony was a huge part of the rhythm as well. Always loved all his contributions including vocal.
Because he started on the drums before he became a guitarist.
The beginning of the song is Eddie playing the guitar like a bass, slappin' the old guitar, hitting harmonics, then tapping the harmonics. Idk anyone else who's ever pulled that off.
Eddie's rhythm chops almost always got overlooked, but the dude had 'em. R.I.P. Edward.
This album is definitive. If you’ve never heard Van Halen before, this is the album you wanna listen to.
Agreed!
For sure, this is my favorite album, they recorded together. 1 & 2 were pretty incredible too, though! They couldn’t go wrong just starting at VH1, and going through their discography, like they do all the other legendary artists and bands. 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼
VH II is my #1
Yep and with the best EVH tone too. Eddies tone sounded different on each VH album (to me) this album was pure brown tone the whole way through.
I agree this is one of the easier ones to get into in terms of Eddie’s “brown tone” but I disagree. 1 is what you should start with plain and simple
This is my favorite Van Halen song. That guitar tone is sick! The drum sound is phenomenal as well. Sounds amazing really loud!
100 pct. Nastiest dirtiest ever
Nothing beats this sound. When Van Halen wasn't Van Hagar and that was a good thing.
@@tjmasson1013 100% bad ass nasty!..rip goat
The guitar tone is awesome on all early VH. It has that cranked Marshall Plexi tone that suits this style amazingly well.
Don't Forget Davids lyrics
Absolutely one of the best songs. In my top ten best songs ever.
VH at their best. Roth's inflections at the right point in this song sets up what is coming next, and the bass line just drives it along: Michael's best bassline, ever, in my opinion. EVH, what do you say that hasn't been said? Alex's drumming is really on point, here. This was a well-oiled machine of a band during this period of their musical careers. I automatically like any reaction to this song just to watch people's faces...plus it gives me reason to listen to the song, again: As if I needed a reason.
This song swings like a hammer and that groove never lets up. Their best album for my money.
The Great Edward Van Halen - we will never see another one like him. All things considered, there is no one like him - The BEST EVER!
Fair warning has always been my favorite Van Halen album. I don’t know why. The whole sound of the album just gets me.
Mine, too.
It's a darker, more cynical tone.
Because it's their best album. hahaha!
Same. It's just a heavy, guttural, dirty rock record. So good.
You’re not the only one.😉
Can you imagine the crowd seeing you play live this song in 1981... This Song was released in 1981 !... Simply amazing ....... The sound . riffs . changes.. it really has a lot going on and makes you stand up take notice.
I've never heard this song before and I was born in 58!!! Lol Thank you guys for playing this absolutely amazing song. Blues man. It's such a groove.
You might have heard it if you weren’t an alien life-form. Classic VH
@@generoberts9151 Point taken. I got caught up in the Disco Fever stuff and then college and didn't delve into VH after that. What's great is being able to watch reactions and experience a "new" song which is over 40 years old. So cool. Hey, ever heard of "Telegram" by Nazareth? If not have a listen sometime.
Welcome to VH world!🍻
My man go play the whole album!
Oh my goodness, you're in for an unreal listen...Sinners Swing, So this is Love, Dirty Movies....whole album is sick, but VH1 thru 1984, every song is unreal (imo)
Drop Dead Legs is another great Van Halen song. Bluesy & funky, it really stands out.
Fire song
Yes DDL.✌🏻
Michael Anthony on Bass, good musician, great backing vocals, carried them on lot's of songs. Live well.
"DANCE, BABY!" Man, that section is one of the sickest grooves in all rock, imo! The whole song is stupid good. David Lee Roth is THE Van Halen singer, and, imo, all the albums up until "1984" were Golden Bars of Kickass.
This takes me back to 1981, 12 years old and freakin loved this album! Back then my favorite bands were AC DC, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Kiss, Boston, UFO, Styx and the Beatles! This album blew me away! Great reaction and some great memories.
This is from one of my favorite Van Halen albums..the first being my favorite
So many Van Halen songs and everyone has their favorites but for me, this will always be how I see Van Halen. So fucking raw and polished at the same time.
Whenever I hear Van Halen the thought always crosses my mind ever since I was a kid .. this is man music 💪😤🤘🎸
I've been loving this album for over 40 years. So cool to see you guys digging my old shit!!!! The first 4, pure gold!!!!
he plays with rhythm, soul and attitude..he was and still is the king of 6 strings!
Talent up the butt....been playing drums for decades because of this groove. Long live the almighty VH......
Some other favs if mine "ain't talkin bout love", "light up the sky" "outta love again". But honestly you almost can't miss with their first 4 albums and some good stuff even after those.
Whew!!! What a way to start an album!! This track and this album have always been my favorite. You guys rock!! 🤘
Some of the groovier drumming ever, Alex is a talent.
It sure is fun to watch you guys traverse so many rabbit holes at once. Rock on!!
This is one of my favorite songs on one of my favorite VH albums. It is so underrated even though many people love it. Great song with great guitar work. Great bass and drums also.
This is probably their best album, and this is the best tune on the album inmo. Mikey is killing that bass.
It's understandable, what with EVH's guitar pyrotechnics and DLR's theatrics, that the rhythm section would get overlooked. But AVH's stick work and MA's driving bass line really carried this song. Those two can hang with any rhythm section...anytime, anywhere.
I agree with this mostly. They are good. But there is a reason they get lost sometimes. They are not Buford/ White and Squire of Yes or Geddy and Peart of Rush. But they are good.
This album is an artistic masterpiece. Legendary guitar work on this one.
The thing I like most about you guys is, you are so honest. You really give her full attention to the song and let it affect you. Talking about things that really got to you is so intriguing. You sometimes pick up on stuff I didn't think about, and it makes me appreciate the music even more. Let me tell you, it is much appreciated! 😊
The groove is infectious !!!!
If that don't get your head bobbing, I don't know what will. Rock On guys!! :)
This song always had a funk and a drive to it, my favorite.
Start of with their first album! We were all blown away (rock enthusiasts) by their unique sound. All of their albums are a must to hear! You’ll not regret it.
That is a superb album. One of my favourites from VH.
Awww Hell Yeah! The Mighty Van Halen. They were flawless on the first six albums with David Lee Roth. No Fillers, all Killers!
I remember the first time I heard this song when the album first came out, I thought the opening guitar riff was bad ass. But when David came in with the vocals, the riff was dropped an octave and the bass line came in with Eddie's guitar.....it was like a punch in the face. I couldn't get over how sic that sounded, and yes it felt like a street record. Love this song.
David Lee Roth, the lead singer, wrote all the lyrics & had a very distinctive vocal style. Yes, he absolutely had a rap cadence/talking style on a lot of songs, really made Van Halen unique in yet another way. It's why so many prefer him to Samy Hagar, their lead singer after Dave. Sammy's voice is technically better, but Dave is just special.
Absolutely David Lee Roth was the main vocals the original there no better sorry Sammy Hagar
Sammy's voice is higher, not better. Dave's voice sits perfectly in the mix. A nice low mid growl filling up the center with rest of the band framing it. Sounds like a roaring lion and Sammy sounds like a screeching eagle. Sounds great on his solo stuff because the music framed his voice better. In Van Halen he was in the same sonic space as everything else. All high end shrill. Dave balanced it out perfectly. It's just lucky genetics.
The main riff is so damn good, I love it. The whole song just kicks ass from beginning to end...
GREAT TUNE, GREAT ALBUM... As with all the EARLY Recordings from all bands, the first albums are the best ones... When MTV showed up, the Talent Left...! The First Album, everyone knew every word of every song.
Going to keep Plugging Early Aerosmith too. REAL HARD ROCK describes the first 4 albums. GET YOUR WINGS and ROCKS are two albums that totally rock...
Hey guys! Your Zeppelin reactions brought me to your channel and now I’m in it!!
This album is my fav by VH, awesome song! Keep on killing it
Thanks for rocking with us!!
@0:54 > This is the pinnacle of the "Brown Sound," particularly that sustained power chord in the beginning right after the tapping riff. It just rings out in nasty glory. Never gets old.
Awesome sauce all day long, every time you hear old school Van Halen. Do one song at a time. Start with one. Live it!
Van Halen are the ultimate party band! You should listen through their self-titled first album, it's one of if not the greatest rock debut album up there with Zeppelin 1. Almost every song was a hit and it was a revolution in guitar playing and sound!
Yes it is 🔥🔥🔥
Greatest band of all time.
The menacing snarl in this immortal classic is heard in even greater ferocity on House Of Pain, the final track on their 1984 album. Teeth tearing flesh and crushing bone.
The greatest fade out in music history. Van Halen rules.
Diamond Dave is arguably one of the best front men in Rock.
This iteration of Van Halen doesn’t get enough credit for the music they produced. This is top tier
I think this is some of thier best work . Hard
One of the greatest VH songs as far as riffs go. Just nasty. Not to mention the work of Alex and Mike holding it down during the break before the solo. Ed was a genius on so many levels. Always loved how he masterfully played off the lyric “lord strike that poor boy down.” He rode a swell into that and then that pick slide sounded like thunder and lightning. Ridiculous
If I was an MMA fighter, this would be my walkout song. One of their very best, IMO. This entire album is AMAZING.
Randy Cotoure came out to this song when he fought James Toney way back at ufc 118.
@@bradrot991 Awesome! As I recall, James got absolutely manhandled by Randy's grappling.
My walk out song would be "do you really want to hurt me?" From Culture Club haha😂
@@slimsantilli4476 That would be great.
Every new VH release was always met wth excitement, wth good reason. But you could tell Mean Streets was different. I think people stopped fawning over Eddie's solos and realized his true talent. Big boy album. This was also their last true album together and their best
So many great VH songs...some of my favs... " Running With The Devil", "Jamie's Crying", "Everybody Wants Some" ❤❤ ❤
I was 13 or 14 years old when I heard this album for the first time (back in the early 80s). Up until this time I was listening to banjo music and blue grass because I loved the intricacy of banjo that fueled my hyperactive mind. Eddie Van Halen and the boys of Van Halen came along and it changed my life forever. This album is one of the darker/harder albums for Van Halen. The second song "Dirty Movies" has kind of a funny back story. Alex Van Halen (Drummer and Eddies brother) and David Lee Roth used to do the radio station circuit together, promoting concerts or new releases. David Lee Roth would always tell hilarious stories or jokes. He tells this hilarious joke about how to get rid of the crabs: "You go to a dirty movie (porno) movie theater wearing nothing but a trench coat. You buy two large buckets of popcorn with the entire salt shaker in one bucket and you buy one big root beer. You go into the theater and sit down in the middle row. You eat one of the popcorns and drink the root beer. Open up your trench coat and poor the popcorn with the salt, all over yourself and when the crabs get up to go get a root beer, change seats....
Van Halen was one of the original hard corps party bands and were famous for getting kicked out of hotels or getting arrested. Alex Van Halen told a story, during a radio interview about how he was parting with David Lee Roth at some hotel in California with a bunch of people. Alex woke up the next morning in the hospital, all bruised and bloody and bandaged. He called up David Lee Roth and asked what happened. Dave says, "last night you got so drunk, you bet everyone you could jump off the second floor balcony and fly and you jumped and landed in the bushes hard". Alex asks, "why didn't you stop me?!?" David replies, "Stop you? I bet everyone $100 dollars you could do it!" lol.
No one played like Eddie ❤❤❤❤😢😢, RIP Eddie we miss you so much
Born 1968, this came out when I was 13 already playing guitar. The intro grabs me to this day. I've tried to play it maybe 50,000 times. I can play it true for maybe 8 seconds then I throw a push rod and parts fall off. IMHO, the Mean Street intro is the hardest thing to master in rock 'n roll guitar. Maybe impossible?
Just want to say great job guys - I like what you said about listening to guitarist and how EVH is different - he is and he is the best! Great job! You guys ROCK!
Been listening to that song for 30 years. Never gets old!
Love those Oakland A’s hats ❤
This is my favorite song of theirs. NICE! ✌️☮️
Van Halen at the height of their powers! Great choice.
Excellent...this is a good day. 😛👍
To be very American about this , which I am , this song totally kicks serious .. ass ! Growing up in LA , I use to chuckle because this band came from Pasadena . Pasadena in the 70’s was full of the elderly , cafeterias and Early Bird specials ! Still can’t believe they grew up there! Hilarious! They probably got alot of complaints about the noise ! lol
Dat Bass line though.
Michael Anthony kills it!
Excellent choice.
It’s so cool you guys are listening to this for what is. It isn’t on the charts like it was but this was the shit back in the day. Still get goosebumps from those guys 👍🏽
Love VH and this is still may FAVORITE VH album. Nasty from start to finish.
another album where Ed sets himself apart. at the time there were a ton of gun slingers, then Ed drops that intro and we all go back to the shed to practice. Al's groove and pocket are overlooked because he has a generational talent with him. Monster band
These guy's actually listened to the whole song and played it completely out !!!!! Fantastic man !!!!!😊
It's like David Lee Roth is RAPPING those verses. Bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen is an in the pocket, grooving rhythm section. Just perfect.
In Belgium, or at least within the circle of friends and acquaintances I frequented, Van Halen wasn't too well received because of their cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me". Most people I connected with when I was a teen were much older than me and a lot grew up with typical sixties British Rock like Kinks, The Who, Faces and Small Faces, Rolling Stones and touching any song from those days was as good as blasphemy. I never cared too much. Bought Van Halen's first album in 1978 when it was released and I liked what I heard. Saw the lads in 1980 at the Geleen Pink Pop Festival (26th of May) and despite David Lee Roth having gotten in an accident on an Italian TV stage a few days prior to the show all was well and the gig was more than okay. "Mean Streets" is one of those songs that have a groove that is infectuous. Thanks for the reaction lads.
I got to see these bad boys in concert in Birmingham Alabama back in 1983 and they freaking rocked the place
Van Halen is a whole other rabbit hole for you two! We were all blown away when their first album came out. I would start there.
Their best album, every song was great. The songs flowed so well too, you could pop the tape in and let it run out that side, then flip it over and doing the same to side 2
Van Halen DLR years Best Band of All Time! No one could touch them. This is the Van Halen album.
Van Halen was essentially a hard rock/swing jazz party band, at least during the David Lee Roth era. Alex and Edward's father was in a swing jazz band, and they learned those influences at a young age. DLR was also a big vaudeville jazz guy. The swing really shows up in "Sinner's Swing", "I'm the One", "Outta Love Again", "Top Jimmy", "Hot For Teacher", among others. Too much FUN!!!
I remember when this album came out. We went to see Twisted Sister ( in those days half of their set was cover songs) and they played this song. Minus the guitar solo of course. Lol.
Michael Anthony the bass player is the unsung hero in this album. Check out So This Is Love.
That intro is so unique. Nothing else like it anywhere!
Van Halen The most ultimate Rock Band of all time R.I.P EVH
Dave was so right for these records. His rasp and attitude compliment Edwards tone and attack so well. They were great together.
=VH=
Cool vid, guys.
Great album, great song. Back in the day I covered this song. The intro you hear is actually Eddie Van Halen on guitar and it's very hard to do. He slaps with both hands, one for muting while the other hits the low E string and the two high B and E strings on the 12th fret.
From a song writing perspective this song is absolutely flawless, every track is perfectly done - Drums, bass, vocals and of course the guitars, even the tempo sets the mood. Although this song doesn't have a pre-chorus, it's filled with different ideas which is a sign of good song writing skills. The outro is also excellent with the 2-3 guitar parts that match the mood of the song. As you listen more to the song, the various parts stick in your mind and you can't get them out and you crave for more.
From a guitar standpoint, Eddie does a beautiful job mixing the various techniques that really drives the song. The harmonics right before the band comes in, the ending to the chorus with varying chord inversions, the pick slides, the harmonics, the tremolo, very well thought out from beginning to end. And of course, the EVH soloing is flawless.
My fave van halen song. Eddie's tone will never be matched. Everyone likes to focus on the tapping and harmonics, but they often forget the pure funk and feeling that he had.
Oh man, when this came out, I had a 76’ Camero with a Pioneer Super Tuner II in dash, amp, and speakers! I would kill to have that car and the system back and blast this one once again!!
Much love to you guys for doing this - it allows others that may have never really listened to VH to discover what many consider the greatest rock band of all time. And Eddie VanHalen is by far the greatest guitar of them all.
Props boys!
Great album great times! Women and children first is another really good one
We listened to Van Halen a lot back in the day 👍
Nothing like David Lee Roth era Van Halen 🎸✌️
The best hip hop song I've ever heard! This album and Woman And Children First, (their 3rd album), ruled my teen years. They are def worth doing entire albums if you guys are down. No concepts, just pure rock, with lots of rhythm and of course some blues. First 4 albums are excellent imo. After that, the drama with David appeared to begin as it showed in their work. I think they did 2 more albums with Dave before Sammy came in. They have a lot of good stuff from that era as well. Thanks for playing this one guys. I think you would love every song on Fair Warning! ✌🏼❤
It's not hip hop, hop is it.
They were so fawkn Badassss!
Although the debut album is my fave this is an extremely close 2nd out of those 6 albums with lead singer DLR. Every songs a banger!
The GOAT played it on the first go round.
Mean Street. Its always relevant to the around us especially in 2023.
My favorite album
I love everything VH has put out (even Diver Down, Balance and III), but Fair Warning is my favorite. Such a dirty, funky sound.
The groove and swing of Ed is way beyond any solo playing he did.
This is my favorite album released. Cheers.
Michael Anthony is killing it
Alex Lifeson and Eddie Van Halen are my favorite guitarists, in a crowd with SRV, Paige, Beck, Jimmy, and 20 others. They are so different from each other, but both knew how to use distortion in the proper amounts like cooking a recipe. Okay, that was corny, but you know what I mean. That gritty distortion they both used was just perfect.
Same album, two songs down. Sinner's Swing. Awesome song.
That has to be one of the best Rock guitar sounds ever recorded.
The best hard rock album of all time!